Vaping Article Comprising a Functionalized Cooling Zone

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a vaping article comprisingan aerosol-generating zone,a zone for cooling the aerosol comprising a paper in the shape of a hollow tube, this paper comprising a fibrous substrate, andoptionally a filtering zone,characterized in that the zone for cooling the aerosol is functionalized by a plant extract and an aerosol-generating agent.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is part of the field of devices for heating tobacco without burning it and relates to a vaping article, in particular its cooling zone.

PRIOR ART

A large number of devices for heating tobacco without burning it have been developed in order to avoid the formation of harmful constituents during combustion of the tobacco. By way of example, mention may be made of the applications published under numbers WO 2016/026810 and WO 2016/207407 which describe such devices. The user inserts a vaping article into the device and then the tobacco substrate of the vaping article is heated to a temperature below the combustion temperature without being burnt, thereby resulting in the formation of an aerosol comprising the tobacco aromas and nicotine. The aerosol generated during heating of the tobacco replaces cigarette smoke and has advantageous organoleptic properties when it is inhaled by the user. This thus allows the user to inhale the tobacco aromas while at the same time very significantly reducing the exposure of the user to the harmful constituents of the smoke.

Conventionally, the vaping article comprises, in the direction of airflow, a zone for generating an aerosol comprising tobacco, preferably reconstituted tobacco, and an aerosol-generating agent surrounded by a cigarette-type paper, a zone for cooling the aerosol comprising a paper in the form of a hollow tube and a zone for filtering the cooled aerosol comprising a filter. These three zones are held together by a sleeve paper.

In order for the user to adopt these heating devices, it is important for the user's experience to be satisfactory. The organoleptic properties of the aerosols generated by the conventional tobacco sticks are satisfactory but can be further improved. In particular, it may be advantageous to increase the aerosol volume and to improve the sensory experience provided by the aerosol.

It may also be advantageous to offer the user of these heating devices aromas that are different from those of tobacco.

It is thus to the credit of the inventors to have found that it is possible to meet these needs by virtue of a functionalization of the cooling zone of the vaping articles.

SUMMARY

Thus, a first subject of the invention is a vaping article comprising

an aerosol-generating zone,

a zone for cooling the aerosol comprising a paper in the shape of a hollow tube, this paper comprising a fibrous substrate, and

a filtering zone,

characterized in that the paper in the shape of a hollow tube also comprises

between 5% and 40%, in particular between 10% and 30%, most particularly between 12% and 25% of plant extract by weight of dry matter of said paper, and

between 5% and 30%, in particular between 8% and 20% of aerosol-generating agent by weight of dry matter of said paper, and

the paper in the shape of a hollow tube has a grammage between 90 g/m² and 200 g/m², in particular between 100 g/m² and 190 g/m², most particularly between 130 g/m² and 180 g/m².

The zone for cooling of the vaping article of this first subject of the invention is directly functionalized by virtue of the addition of the plant extract and of the aerosol-generating agent to the fibrous substrate of the paper in the shape of a hollow tube.

A second subject is a vaping article comprising

an aerosol-generating zone,

a zone for cooling the aerosol comprising a paper in the shape of a hollow tube, this paper comprising a fibrous substrate, and

a filtering zone,

characterized in that a functionalized paper is included in the zone for cooling the aerosol, this functionalized paper comprises:

a fibrous substrate,

between 5% and 40%, in particular between 10% and 35%, most particularly between 14% and 30% of plant extract by weight of dry matter of said functionalized paper, and

between 15% and 30% of aerosol-generating agent by weight of dry matter of said functionalized paper, and

this functionalized paper has a grammage between 35 g/m² and 120 g/m², in particular between 55 g/m² and 110 g/m², most particularly between 65 g/m² and 100 g/m².

The cooling zone of the vaping article of this second subject of the invention is indirectly functionalized by virtue of the addition, in this cooling zone, of the functionalized paper comprising the fibrous substrate, the plant extract and the aerosol-generating agent.

Compared to a vaping article in which the cooling zone is not functionalized, the vaping articles according to the invention of which the cooling zone is functionalized, directly or indirectly, form an aerosol, the organoleptic properties of which are advantageously improved. In particular, the volume, the taste and the sensory experience of the aerosol are more satisfactory.

Furthermore, the vaping articles according to the invention, of which the cooling zone is functionalized, directly or indirectly, can advantageously form an aerosol in which the aromas depend on the plant extract used.

A third subject of the invention is a paper comprising:

a fibrous substrate,

between 5% and 40%, in particular between 10% and 30%, most particularly between 12% and 25% of plant extract by weight of dry matter of said paper, and

between 5% and 30%, in particular between 8% and 20% of aerosol-generating agent by weight of dry matter of said paper,

and having a grammage between 100 g/m² and 190 g/m², in particular between 130 g/m2 and 180 g/m².

A fourth subject of the invention is a functionalized paper comprising:

a fibrous substrate,

between 5% and 40%, in particular between 10% and 35%, most particularly between 25% and 30% of plant extract by weight of dry matter of said functionalized paper, and

between 15% and 30% of aerosol-generating agent by weight of dry matter of said functionalized paper, and

having a grammage between 65 g/m² and 100 g/m².

A fifth subject of the invention is a method for producing a paper according to the third subject of the invention as defined above, comprising the following steps:

a1) providing a fibrous substrate,

b1) bringing a plant extract and an aerosol-generating agent into contact with the fibrous substrate in order to obtain a modified substrate,

c1) drying the modified substrate in order to obtain the paper.

A sixth subject of the invention is a method for producing a functionalized paper according to the fourth subject of the invention defined above, comprising the following steps:

a2) providing a fibrous substrate,

b2) bringing a plant extract and an aerosol-generating agent into contact with the fibrous substrate in order to obtain a functionalized substrate,

c2) drying the functionalized substrate in order to obtain the functionalized paper.

A seventh subject of the invention is a method for producing a hollow tube made of paper according to the third subject of the invention defined above or obtained by means of the method according to the fifth subject of the invention defined above, said method comprising the following step:

d) shaping the paper in order to obtain the hollow tube.

An eighth subject of the invention is a method for producing a hollow tube made of paper into which a functionalized paper is inserted, the functionalized paper being in accordance with the fourth subject of the invention as defined above or obtained by means of the method according to the sixth subject of the invention as defined above, said method comprising the following step:

e) preparing the hollow tube made of paper comprising the functionalized paper.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

According to a first subject, the invention relates to a vaping article comprising:

an aerosol-generating zone,

a zone for cooling the aerosol comprising a paper in the shape of a hollow tube, this paper comprising a fibrous substrate, and

a filtering zone,

characterized in that the paper in the shape of a hollow tube also comprises:

between 5% and 40%, in particular between 10% and 30%, most particularly between 12% and 25% of plant extract by weight of dry matter of said paper, and

between 5% and 30%, in particular between 8% and 20% of aerosol-generating agent by weight of dry matter of said paper, and

the paper in the shape of a hollow tube has a grammage between 90 g/m² and 200 g/m², in particular between 100 g/m² and 190 g/m², most particularly between 130 g/m² and 180 g/m².

The zone for cooling, also referred as “cooling zone” in the present application, of the vaping article of this first subject of the invention is functionalized directly by virtue of the addition of the plant extract and of the aerosol-generating agent to the fibrous substrate of the paper in the shape of a hollow tube.

According to a second subject, the invention relates to a vaping article comprising:

an aerosol-generating zone,

a zone for cooling the aerosol comprising a paper in the shape of a hollow tube, this paper comprising a fibrous substrate, and

a filtering zone,

characterized in that a functionalized paper is included in the zone for cooling the aerosol, this functionalized paper comprises:

a fibrous substrate,

between 5% and 40%, in particular between 10% and 35%, most particularly between 14% and 30% of plant extract by weight of dry matter of said functionalized paper, and

between 15% and 30% of aerosol-generating agent by weight of dry matter of said functionalized paper, and

this functionalized paper has a grammage between 35 g/m² and 120 g/m², in particular between 55 g/m² and 110 g/m², most particularly between 65 g/m² and 100 g/m².

The cooling zone of the vaping article of this second subject of the invention is functionalized indirectly by virtue of the addition, in its cooling zone, of the functionalized paper comprising the fibrous substrate, the plant extract and the aerosol-generating agent.

For the purposes of the present application, the term “vaping article” denotes an article comprising tobacco and/or any other plant intended to be vaped. The vaping article is intended to be inserted into a device for heating the tobacco and/or the plant without burning it and which makes it possible to deliver an aerosol to a user. For example, the vaping article may be a tobacco stick.

Typically, the aerosol-generating zone may comprise a sheet of cigarette-type paper wrapped around an aerosol-generating substrate. Conventionally, the generating substrate comprises a sheet of reconstituted plant and an aerosol-generating agent, in particular a sheet of reconstituted tobacco and of glycerin.

Typically, the filtering zone may comprise a plug wrap wrapped around a filter in order to form a filtering element.

In the direction of airflow, the cooling zone may be located between the aerosol-generating zone and the filtering zone or after the filtering zone.

Typically, the paper in the form of a hollow tube of the cooling zone may comprise, in the hollow tube, a honeycomb structure. This honeycomb structure may be made of creped polylactic acid (PLA) or not.

Advantageously, the direct or indirect functionalization of the cooling zone of the stick of the invention makes it possible to amplify and to improve the taste of the aerosol generated and also the sensory experience of the user.

The cooling zone may be functionalized directly, indirectly or directly and indirectly. For example, the cooling zone may be functionalized directly with an extract of a plant and indirectly by virtue of the functionalized paper comprising a extract of another plant, and vice versa.

When the cooling zone is functionalized indirectly, the functionalized paper can be included in the hollow tube of the cooling zone, i.e. added to the inside of this hollow tube. Typically, the functionalized paper can be inserted into the hollow tube of the cooling zone, stuck to the paper in the shape of a hollow tube of the cooling zone, or can be laminated to the paper in the shape of a hollow tube of the cooling zone.

For the purposes of the present application, the term “fibrous substrate” denotes a substrate comprising fibres, the substrate typically being obtained by means of a papermaking process.

The fibrous substrate of the paper in the shape of a hollow tube can have a grammage between 80 g/m² and 180 g/m², in particular between 90 g/m² and 150 g/m², most particularly between 100 g/m² and 120 g/m².

Advantageously, a grammage within these ranges makes it possible, by adjusting the content of plant extract and of the aerosol-generating agent, to obtain the paper in the shape of a hollow tube of the vaping article of the first subject of the invention.

Furthermore, the hollow tube can be obtained easily and can have mechanical properties, in particular a stiffness, which are satisfactory by virtue of these grammage values.

The fibrous substrate of the functionalized paper can have a grammage of between 15 g/m² and 80 g/m², in particular between 30 g/m² and 70 g/m², most particularly between 35 g/m² and 60 g/m².

Advantageously, a grammage within these ranges makes it possible, by adjusting the content of the plant extract and of the aerosol-generating agent, to obtain the functionalized paper of the vaping article of the second subject of the invention.

In order to determine the grammage of the substrate of the paper in the shape of a hollow tube and of the substrate of the functionalized paper, the following method may be used:

A sample of 1 m² is cut out with a template (dimensions: 100×100 cm). The sample is then folded into four and placed on a hot plate so as to be dried thereon in order to determine the water without removing the aerosol-generating agent. The dried sample is then weighed in order to determine the grammage of the fibrous substrate.

Typically, the fibres of the fibrous substrate of the paper in the shape of a hollow tube and/or the fibres of the fibrous substrate of the functionalized paper can be chosen from cellulose fibres, plant fibres, synthetic fibres, and mixtures thereof, in particular cellulose fibres, plant fibres, and mixtures thereof, more particularly cellulose fibres.

Under certain circumstances, the cellulose fibres can represent at least 50%, particularly at least 70%, more particularly at least 80%, even more particularly at least 90% by weight of dry matter of the fibrous substrate.

In one particular embodiment, the fibres of the fibrous substrate are cellulose fibres.

The cellulose fibres are fibres obtained by means of a process of chemical or mechanical or thermomechanical cooking, such as wood pulp, or from annual plants such as flax or hemp for example. A mixture of these cellulose-based plant fibres can also be used.

Advantageously, these cellulose fibres can improve the mechanical strength properties of the paper in the shape of a hollow tube and of the functionalized paper.

Typically, the plant fibres can be obtained after extraction of the plant extract. The plant fibres can confer desired organoleptic properties on the aerosol.

The plant fibres may not have mechanical properties which allow the formation of a fibrous support. Advantageously, mixing the plant fibres with cellulose fibres allows the formation of a fibrous support since cellulose fibres generally have better mechanical properties than plant fibres.

The plant of the plant fibres can be chosen from tobacco plants, food plants, fragrant plants or medicinal plants.

Typically, the food plants are garlic, coffee, ginger, liquorice, rooibos, Stevia rebaudiana, tea, cacao tree, camomile, maté, star anise, fennel, citronella, and mixtures thereof, in particular star anise.

Typically, the fragrant plants are lavender, rose, and mixtures thereof.

Typically, the medicinal plants are those indicated in the document, list A of traditionally used medicinal plants (French pharmacopeia January 2016, published by the Agence Nationale de Sécurité du Medicament (ANSM) [French National Agency for Drug and Health Product Safety]) or plants known to comprise compounds which have therapeutic properties. Typically, the medicinal plants listed are eucalyptus, ginkgo, ginseng, sour cherry, peppermint, willow and red vine, and mixtures thereof, in particular eucalyptus.

In one preferred embodiment, the fibres may be cellulose fibres, eucalyptus fibres, star anise fibres, or mixtures thereof.

Within the meaning of the present application, the term “aerosol-generating agent” means a compound which allows the formation of an aerosol when it is heated, for example on contact with hot air.

Typically, the aerosol-generating agent of the paper in the shape of a hollow tube of the vaping article of the first subject of the invention or of the functionalized paper of the vaping article of the second subject of the invention may be a polyol, a non-polyol or a mixture thereof. A generating agent which is a polyol may be chosen from sorbitol, glycerin, propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, and mixtures thereof. A generating agent which is a non-polyol may be chosen from lactic acid, glyceryl diacetate, glyceryl triacetate, triethyl citrate, isopropyl myristate and mixtures thereof.

According to one embodiment, the aerosol-generating agent is glycerin, propylene glycol, or a mixture of glycerin and propylene glycol, glycerin being preferred.

Typically, the weight content of aerosol-generating agent in the paper can be measured by gas chromatography.

1 g of the paper to be analysed is cut into pieces (5 mm×5 mm) and is placed in a methanol-type extraction solution for three hours with stirring. A portion of the supernatant is then injected into a chromatograph coupled to a flame ionization detector in order to determine the amount of glycerin of the mixture. The weight content of aerosol-generating agent is quantified using a standard curve. Those skilled in the art will know how to determine the amount of extraction solution and the stirring rate required to extract the aerosol-generating agent.

Within the meaning of the present application, the term “plant extract” means all of the water-soluble products of the plant. Advantageously, the plant extract can comprise nicotine, compounds which confer organoleptic properties and/or therapeutic properties of the aerosol. The plant extracts may also be plant essential oils.

The organoleptic properties and the therapeutic properties of the aerosol formed by the vaping article of the invention may depend on the dry matter content by weight of the plant extract included in the paper in the shape of a hollow tube of the vaping article of the first subject of the invention or in the functionalized paper of the vaping article of the second subject of the invention.

The total dry matter content weight of the plant extract depends on the plant used and more particularly on the content of aromatic compounds or of compounds having therapeutic properties of the plant used.

Typically, the plant extract may be chosen from the tobacco plant, food plants, aromatic plants, fragrant plants, medicinal plants, plants of the family Cannabaceae, or a mixture thereof.

Typically, the plant fibres of the plant extract used in the present invention can come from various parts of the plant, the parts of the plant being parts of the plant itself or the result of the transformation of various parts of the plant. Typically, the parts of the plant may be whole parts of the plant or debris originating from the threshing or mixing and shredding of the parts of the plant.

Typically, the parts of the plant can be selected from the parts of the plant richest in aromatic compounds giving the aerosol its organoleptic properties. Typically, these parts may be the whole plant, the aerial parts of the plant such as the flower bud, the branch bark, the stem bark, the leaves, the flower, the fruit and its peduncle, the seed, the petal or the flowerhead, or the underground parts, for example the bulb, the roots, the root bark, the rhizome, or a mixture thereof. The part of the plant may also be the result of the mechanical, chemical or mechanical-chemical transformation of one or more parts of the plant, for instance the shell protecting the cacao bean resulting from the bean shelling process.

Among the food plants, the garlic bulb, the coffee cherry, the star anise fruit, the rhizome of ginger, the liquorice root and the leaves of rooibos, of Stevia rebaudiana, or of tea may for example be selected as parts.

Among the aromatic plants, clove flower buds (the cloves), basil, laurel and sage leaves, mint, oregano, rosemary and thyme leaves and flowerhead, or the rhizome of turmeric may for example be selected as parts.

Typically, among the fragrant plants, lavender flower and flowerhead, or rose flower bud and petals may be selected.

Among the medicinal plants listed in the French pharmacopeia, ginkgo leaf, the underground part of ginseng, the peduncle of the sour cherry fruit (cherry stalk), the leaves and the flowerhead of peppermint, the stem bark and the leaves of willow, or the leaves of red vine may for example be selected.

Typically, eucalyptus is among the medicinal plants known to comprise compounds having therapeutic properties.

In order to determine the total dry matter content weight of plant extract, use may be made of the following method:

The sheet of paper to be analysed is milled in order to achieve a particle size of less than or equal to 1 mm. The sheet of paper is then mixed with boiling water for 45 minutes in order to extract all of the plant extract. The weight of plant extract is calculated by the difference between the dry weight of the sample of sheet of paper to be analysed and the dry weight of the fibrous remainder after extraction.

Advantageously, a plant extract obtained from a mixture of plants makes it possible to offer a broad panel of organoleptic properties and/or therapeutic properties.

According to one very specific embodiment of the vaping article of the first subject of the invention (direct functionalization of the cooling zone), the paper in the shape of a hollow tube may comprise:

a fibrous substrate made of cellulose fibre, eucalyptus fibre, star anise fibre, or mixtures thereof, more particularly cellulose fibre,

between 12% and 25% of tobacco extract, star anise extract, or a mixture thereof, by weight of dry matter of said paper, and

between 8% and 20% of glycerin by weight of dry matter of said paper, and

can have a grammage of between 130 g/m² and 180 g/m².

According to one very specific embodiment of the vaping article of the second subject of the invention (indirect functionalization of the cooling zone), the functionalized paper may comprise:

a fibrous substrate made of cellulose fibre, eucalyptus fibre, star anise fibre, or mixtures thereof, more particularly cellulose fibre,

between 25% and 30% of tobacco extract, eucalyptus extract or star anise extract by weight of dry matter of said functionalized paper, and

between 15% and 30% of glycerin by weight of dry matter of said functionalized paper, and

have a grammage of between 65 g/m² and 100 g/m².

A third subject of the invention is a paper comprising:

a fibrous substrate,

between 5% and 40%, in particular between 10% and 30%, most particularly between 12% and 25% of plant extract by weight of dry matter of said paper, and

between 5% and 30%, in particular between 8% and 20% of aerosol-generating agent by weight of dry matter of said paper,

said paper having a grammage of between 100 g/m² and 190 g/m², in particular between 130 g/m² and 180 g/m².

The fibrous substrate, the plant extract and the aerosol-generating agent of the paper according to the third subject of the invention are as described above in connection to the paper in the shape of a hollow tube of the vaping article according to the first subject of the invention.

Advantageously, this paper has characteristics such that a hollow tube can be formed from this paper. This hollow tube is particularly suitable for being used in a cooling zone of a vaping article. Furthermore, this hollow tube advantageously makes it possible to improve the taste and also the sensory experience of an aerosol generated by the vaping article.

A fourth subject of the invention is a functionalized paper comprising:

a fibrous substrate,

between 5% and 40%, in particular between 10% and 35%, most particularly between 25% and 30% of plant extract by weight of dry matter of said functionalized paper, and

between 15% and 30% of aerosol-generating agent by weight of dry matter of said functionalized paper,

said functionalized paper having a grammage of between 65 g/m² and 100 g/m².

The fibrous substrate, the plant extract and the aerosol-generating agent of this functionalized paper according to the fourth subject of the invention are as described above in connection with the functionalized paper of the vaping article according to the second subject of the invention.

Advantageously, this functionalized paper has characteristics such that, once included in a cooling zone of a vaping article, it makes it possible to improve the taste and also the sensory experience of an aerosol generated by the vaping article.

The paper of the third subject of the invention and the functionalized paper of the fourth subject of the invention have different grammages with a view to their distinct use. Indeed, the paper of the third subject of the invention is intended to be shaped into a hollow tube in order to be used as a zone for cooling the aerosol of a vaping article. The functionalized paper of the fourth subject of the invention is for its part intended to be added to the inside of the hollow tube of the cooling zone of a vaping article. These different uses require different properties, in particular a different stiffness, and therefore different grammages.

A fifth subject of the invention is a method for producing a paper according to the third subject of the invention defined above, comprising the following steps:

a1) providing a fibrous substrate,

b1) bringing a plant extract and an aerosol-generating agent into contact with the fibrous substrate in order to obtain a modified substrate,

c1) drying the modified substrate in order to obtain the paper.

A sixth subject of the invention is a method for producing a functionalized paper according to the fourth subject of the invention defined above, comprising the following steps:

a2) providing a fibrous substrate,

b2) bringing a plant extract and an aerosol-generating agent into contact with the fibrous substrate in order to obtain a functionalized substrate,

c2) drying the functionalized substrate in order to obtain the functionalized paper.

Steps b1) and b2) can be carried out by flexography, by blade coating, by curtain coating or by bar coating, by impregnation, by spraying, in particular by flexography or bar coating.

During steps b1) and b2), the plant extract and the aerosol-generating agent can be brought into contact with the fibrous support one after the other or can be mixed so as to be brought into contact with the fibrous support together.

The drying steps c1) and c2) can be carried out by infrared lamp, American battery drying drums, hot-air drying in a tunnel dryer, a vertical dryer, a fluidized-bed dryer, a pneumatic dryer, in particular by hot-air drying in a tunnel dryer.

Steps c1) and c2) can be carried out at a temperature of greater than 50° C., in particular greater than 70° C., more particularly than 80° C., even more particularly of 90° C. Those skilled in the art will know how to adjust the duration of steps c1) and c2) so as to obtain the paper and the functionalized paper with a conventional moisture content for a paper, i.e. between 4% and 10%, in particular between 6% and 8%.

A hollow tube can be obtained with the paper of the third subject of the invention or obtained by means of the method of the fifth subject of the invention.

A seventh subject of the invention is thus a method for producing a hollow tube made of paper according to the third subject of the invention defined above or obtained by means of the method according to the fifth subject of the invention defined above, said method comprising the following step:

d) shaping the paper in order to obtain the hollow tube.

Step d) is a conventional shaping step for those skilled in the art.

The hollow tube may comprise perforations. Once the various zones of the vaping article have been assembled, a step of perforating the hollow tube of the cooling zone is carried out.

Typically, these perforations can be formed by a laser.

Advantageously, this hollow tube is suitable for being used as a cooling zone of a vaping article. Advantageously, this hollow tube has characteristics such that it makes it possible to improve the taste and also the sensory experience of an aerosol generated by the vaping article.

An eighth subject of the invention is a method for producing a hollow tube made of paper in which a functionalized paper is included, the functionalized paper being in accordance with the fourth subject of the invention defined above or obtained by means of the method according to the sixth subject of the invention defined above, said method comprising the following step:

e) preparing the hollow tube made of paper comprising the functionalized paper.

Typically, the paper of the hollow tube may be the paper of the third subject of the invention, the paper of the fourth subject of the invention, the paper produced by the method of the fifth subject of the invention, the paper produced by the method of the sixth subject of the invention, or a paper conventionally used for a cooling zone of a vaping article.

The paper conventionally used for a cooling zone of a vaping article can be produced from wood pulp, tobacco fibres, hemp fibres, flax fibres, sisal fibres, fibres of the shell protecting the cacao bean, cannabis fibres, rice straw, esparto fibres, lyocell fibres, viscose fibres, and mixtures thereof, in particular from wood pulp, hemp fibres, flax fibres, sisal fibres, lyocell fibres, viscose fibres, and mixtures thereof, most particularly from wood pulp. It can have a grammage between 80 g/m² and 180 g/m², in particular between 90 g/m² and 150 g/m², most particularly between 100 g/m² and 120 g/m².

Advantageously, this hollow tube is suitable for use as a cooling zone of a vaping article. Advantageously, this hollow tube has characteristics such that it makes it possible to improve the taste and also the sensory experience of an aerosol generated by the vaping article.

Step e) can, for example, comprise:

a step of inserting the functionalized paper into the hollow tube made of paper,

a step of depositing the functionalized paper on the paper, followed by a step of forming the hollow tube made of paper so that the functionalized paper is comprised in the hollow tube made of paper,

a step of bonding the functionalized paper with the paper, followed by a step of forming the hollow tube made of paper so that the functionalized paper is comprised in the hollow tube made of paper, and

a step of laminating the functionalized paper with the paper, followed by a step of forming the hollow tube made of paper so that the functionalized paper is comprised in the hollow tube made of paper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics, details and advantages will emerge on reading the description in connection with the appended figures.

FIG. 1 is a general view of a vaping article. FIG. 2

FIG. 2 is a detail view of a vaping article. FIG. 3

FIG. 3 is a general view of the hollow tube of the cooling zone of the vaping article.

FIG. 4 is a section of the hollow tube of the cooling zone of the vaping article according to a first subject of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a section of the hollow tube of the vaping article according to a second subject of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a view of the sheet of paper constituting the hollow tube of the vaping article according to a first subject of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a view of the sheet of paper constituting the hollow tube of vaping article according to a second subject of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a vaping article 1 consisting of an aerosol-generating zone 2, a cooling zone 3, and a filtering zone 4. The cooling zone 3 comprises in particular perforations 32 making it possible to cool the aerosol passing through this region during the inhalation by the user.

The drawing in of air at the perforations 32, generated by the breathing in by the user during the inhalation, allows the ambient air to cool the aerosol.

Typically, the vaping article has a length that can be between 40 and 90 mm.

FIG. 2 is a representation for illustrative purposes of a vaping article. Those skilled in the art will know how to adapt the invention to the various existing vaping article designs.

FIG. 2 illustrates the vaping article in a more detailed manner. The following can be distinguished:

an aerosol-generating substrate 21 surrounded by a sheet of cigarette-type paper 22 of the aerosol-generating zone 2,

-   -   the hollow tube 31 of the cooling zone 3,     -   the filter 41, surrounded by a sheet of paper 43, and the hollow         tube 42 of the filtering zone 4.

Typically, the filter 41 and the hollow tube 42 can be made of cellulose acetate.

Typically, the aerosol-generating zone 2 of the vaping article has a length that can be between 10 and 45 mm.

Typically, the hollow tube 31 of the cooling zone 3 of the vaping article has a length that can be between 18 and 30 mm.

Typically, the filter 41 of the filtering zone 4 has a length that can be between 5 and 15 mm.

The hollow tube 31, the filter 41 and the hollow tube 42 are surrounded by a sheet of paper 6.

The aerosol-generating zone 2, the cooling zone 3, and the filtering zone 4 are assembled by means of a sheet of sleeve paper 5 in order to form the vaping article.

Once the elements making up the vaping article 1 are assembled, the hollow tube 31 of the cooling zone 3 is perforated in order to make the perforations 32.

FIG. 3 illustrates a general view of the hollow tube 31 of the cooling zone 3.

FIG. 4 illustrates a vertical section of the hollow tube 31 a composed of a sheet of paper 311 according to the first subject of the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a vertical section of the hollow tube 31 b composed of a sheet of paper 312 according to the second subject of the invention. A sheet of functionalized paper 313 is inserted into the hollow tube 31 b.

FIG. 6 illustrates the sheet of paper 311 making up the hollow tube according to the first subject of the invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates the sheet of paper 312 making up the hollow tube according to the second subject of the invention covered on its internal surface by the sheet of functionalized paper 313.

EXAMPLES Example 1: Indirect Functionalization of the Cooling Zone

Four functionalized papers are produced (Examples 1.1 to 1.4).

For each functionalization paper exemplified, a solution of plant extract and of glycerin is applied to a fibrous substrate by bar coating.

The solution comprises 70% of plant extract and 30% of glycerin. The paper is then dried at 90° C. for 3 minutes.

The amounts of plant extract and of glycerin are measured according to the methods described in the description.

The characteristics of the functionalized paper of Examples 1.1 to 1.4 are presented in Table 1 below. The amounts of plant (tobacco, eucalyptus, star anise) extract and of glycerin are expressed as % by weight of dry matter of the paper.

TABLE 1 Example 1.1 Example 1.2 Example 1.3 Example 1.4 Fibres of the fibrous substrate Cellulose Cellulose Star anise Eucalyptus Grammage of the fibrous substrate 37 37 60 60 of the paper (in g/m²) Grammage of the functionalized 78 98 65 86 paper after coating (in g/m²) Amount of tobacco extract (%) 30 30 — — Amount of eucalyptus extract (%) — — — 28 Amount of star anise extract (%) — — 28 — Amount of glycerol (%) 19 30 21 19

Each functionalized paper of Examples 1.1 to 1.4 was inserted into the cooling zone of a vaping article in order to indirectly functionalize the cooling zone. The four vaping articles were then subjected to organoleptic tests by a team of panellists specifically trained for sensory analysis, in particular for analysis of the taste and volume of the aerosols generated by vaping articles.

Compared to a vaping article comprising a non-functionalized cooling zone, the panellists noted an improvement in the taste and in the sensory experience of the aerosol generated by the vaping article comprising a cooling zone functionalized with the tobacco extract. The taste of the aerosol generated by the vaping article of the present invention in which the functionalized paper comprises eucalyptus extract is fresher with a distinctive note. The taste of the aerosol generated by the vaping article of the present invention in which the functionalized paper comprises star anise extract is milder with a distinctive note. 

1. Vaping article comprising an aerosol-generating zone, a zone for cooling the aerosol, comprising a paper in the shape of a hollow tube, this paper comprising a fibrous substrate, and a filtering zone, characterized in that the paper in the shape of a hollow tube also comprises: between 5% and 40% of plant extract by weight of dry matter of said paper, and between 5 and 30% of aerosol-generating agent by weight of dry matter of said paper, the paper in the shape of a hollow tube has a grammage between 90 g/m² and 200 g/m².
 2. Vaping article comprising an aerosol-generating zone, a zone for cooling the aerosol, comprising a paper in the shape of a hollow tube, this paper comprising a fibrous substrate, and a filtering zone, characterized in that a functionalized paper is included in the zone for cooling the aerosol, this functionalized paper comprises: a fibrous substrate, between 5% and 40% of plant extract by weight of dry matter of said functionalized paper, and between 15% and 30% of aerosol-generating agent by weight of dry matter of said functionalized paper, and this functionalized paper has a grammage of between 35 g/m² and 120 g/m².
 3. Vaping article according to claim 1, in which the fibrous substrate of the paper in the shape of a hollow tube has a grammage of between 80 g/m² and 180 g/m².
 4. Vaping article according to claim 2, in which the fibrous substrate of the functionalized paper has a grammage of between 15 g/m² and 80 g/m².
 5. Vaping article according to claim 1, in which the fibres of the fibrous substrate of the paper in the shape of a hollow tube of the cooling zone and/or the fibres of the fibrous substrate of the functionalized paper can be chosen from cellulose fibres, plant fibres, synthetic fibres, and mixtures thereof.
 6. Vaping article according to claim 1, in which the aerosol-generating agent of the paper in the shape of a hollow tube or of the functionalized paper is chosen from sorbitol, glycerin, propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, lactic acid, glyceryl diacetate, glyceryl triacetate, triethyl citrate, isopropyl myristate, and mixtures thereof.
 7. Paper comprising: a fibrous substrate, between 5% and 40% of plant extract by weight of dry matter of said paper, and between 5% and 30% of aerosol-generating agent by weight of dry matter of said paper, said paper having a grammage between 100 g/m² and 190 g/m².
 8. Functionalized paper comprising: a fibrous substrate, between 5% and 40% of plant extract by weight of dry matter of said functionalized paper, and between 15% and 30% of aerosol-generating agent by weight of dry matter of said functionalized paper, said functionalized paper having a grammage of between 65 g/m² and 100 g/m².
 9. Method for producing a paper as defined in claim 7, comprising the following steps: a1) providing a fibrous substrate, b1) bringing a plant extract and the aerosol-generating agent into contact with the fibrous substrate in order to obtain a modified substrate, c1) drying the modified substrate in order to obtain the paper.
 10. Method for producing a functionalized paper as defined in claim 8, comprising the following steps: a2) providing a fibrous substrate, b2) bringing a plant extract and the aerosol-generating agent into contact with the fibrous substrate in order to obtain a functionalized substrate, c2) drying the functionalized substrate in order to obtain the functionalized paper.
 11. Method for producing a hollow tube made of paper as defined in claim 7, said method comprising the following step: d) shaping the paper in order to obtain the hollow tube.
 12. Method for producing a hollow tube made of paper, in which a functionalized paper is included, the functionalized paper being as defined in claim 8, said method comprising the following step: e) preparing the hollow tube made of paper comprising the functionalized paper.
 13. Vaping article according to claim 2, in which the fibres of the fibrous substrate of the paper in the shape of a hollow tube of the cooling zone and/or the fibres of the fibrous substrate of the functionalized paper can be chosen from cellulose fibres, plant fibres, synthetic fibres, and mixtures thereof
 14. Vaping article according to claim 2, in which the aerosol-generating agent of the paper in the shape of a hollow tube or of the functionalized paper is chosen from sorbitol, glycerin, propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, lactic acid, glyceryl diacetate, glyceryl triacetate, triethyl citrate, isopropyl myristate, and mixtures thereof. 